Heater



T. H. SHERMAN HEATER Feb. 28, 1950 Filed Jan. 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TQ/ICY ATTORN EY Fb. 28, 1950 T. H. SHERMAN HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1, 1943 ATTOR EY mental Feb. 2s, 19,504

AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATER Tracy H: Sherman, South Nyack, N. Y., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 1 Application January 1, 1943, Serial No. 470,974

Claims. (Cl. 122-356) This invention relates to heaters. and more particularly pertains to tubular heaters for heating uids.

The invention provides a tubular huid heater of simple and economical design and construction in which substantially uniform heating of all the tubes in the furnace of the heater is effected, and in which the heat input to the several fluid flow paths may be controlled.

'I'he invention lwill be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a heater embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the heater has a setting including vertical side walls I0 and sloping side walls I2. and I3, end walls I4 and I5, a roof I6 and a bottom Il. Suitable framework designated generally |8, supports the walls and roof of the setting. The walls of the setting enclose a furnace I9 which is fired, as shown, by two fuel burners 20 and 2| located in the lower central portion of each end wall |4 and I5.

'Ihe side walls and roof are lined with fluid conducting tubular members which are heated principally by radiation from the products of combustion produced by the burners 20 and 2|. Vertical side wallsv I0 and have horizontally extendingtubular members 22 and 23 respectively, supported adjacent thereto by the tube supports 24. The sloping side walls I2 and |3 have similar tubular members 25 and 26 re. spectively, hung adjacent thereto by supports 2l, and tubes 23 are supported below the roof by hangers 29. The tubes adjacent the side walls and roof are connected by return bend portions which are disposed within the heater, as shown in Fig. 2. Any other form of tube connections may be utilized however, and the connections may be disposed outside of the end walls, if desired.

The heater has two convection tube bank sections 30 and 3| above the bottom |1 each section comprising a plurality of tubular members, the section 30 being located approximately midway of the side wall I0 and the vertical centerline of the furnace, and section 3| being approximately midway of the side wall and said centerline. A baflle 32 is supported above the sections Ill-3| by tile 33 which rest upon the upper rows of the 2 y tubes of thesectlons 30 and 3|, and by tile 34 which are suitably supported from the setting. A chamber "50' is located inthe bottom of the furnace beneath baille 32 and'comprises laterally adjoining portions 31 and 33, the convection section 30 being disposed in portion 3l and the convection section 3| being positioned in portion 33.

.The sections 30 and 3| are spaced apart so that the tubular members thereof respectively define opposite sides of a central longitudinally extending gas outlet passage 39 while the baille 32 provides a top for said gas outlet passage. Batlle 32 extends for the length of the furnace, but the sides thereof are spaced from the side walls f the furnace and the tubes adjacent thereto, to provide elongated furnace gas passages 35 and 36 through which the gases ilow from the upper part of the furnace over the tubes of sections 30 and 3| respectively and into gas outlet passage 39, which discharges at one end of the heater through a gas outlet opening into a flue 40 which connects with a stack 4| at the end of the heater. Dampers 42 control the flow of gases through the flue from the heater to the stack. The heater is provided with cooling tubes 43 below the bottom I1 for the conduction of air therethrough.

In the form shown, the fluid to be heated ilows through the heater in two separate streams. Fluid enters the convection bank section 30 through an inlet 44, Fig. l, and after flowing through the tubes of bank 30, the fluid flows through cross-over connection 45 to the Wall tubes 22, through these tubes 22 in series, and through sloping wall tubes 25 and roof tubes 28 to outlet ,46. Fluid flows similarly through the other side of the heater, entering at inlet 41,

flowing through the tubes of convection bank 3|, through cross-over connection 43, through wall tubes 23, sloping wall tubes 23, roof tubes 28 and out outlet 43. Other fluid flow arrangements may be employed, if desired.

In operation, the hot products of combustion produced by the burners 20 and 2| stream from the burners and rise in columns toward the roof. The gases are cooled by radiation of heat to the fluid conducting tubes in the furnace, and fall of their own weight and under the influence of the draft provided at the bottom of each side of the furnace, toward the gas passages 35 and 36. The

gases thus form a symmetrical pattern with relation to the radiant heat absorbing tubes in the furnace, as viewed in Fig. -1, and thereby effect substantially uniform heating of all the tubes in the furnace. By controlling the burners, the quantity of heating gases produced in either side of the furnace may be controlled and varied, to control the amount of heat supplied to the tubes on either side of the furnace and to vary the temperature to which the fluid owing through either flow path is heated.

Fluid heaters embodying the invention possess numerous advantages, among which the following may be mentioned. Inasmuch as little wall surface is exposed to direct radiant heat, the settingdimensions, particularly the height of the heater, are minimized with consequent economy in first cost. The sloping side walls eliminate corners which generally are cold spots in the furnace, and tend to provide a more even heat absorption throughout the radiant section of the heater. The sloping walls also makes it possible to utilize a roof cover which is simple and inexpensive. No roof trusses are necessary and very little steel is required for the roof cover, although the top and sloping sides of the heater are fully protected from the weather. The sloping walls and the roof arch may be made of light weight refractory which reduces the weight of the setting so that the steel framework may be of light weight and of low cost. The side walls of the heater are supported directly on the foundation, and because these Walls are comparatively loW, they can be tied back readily to the framework and are practically self-supporting. Inasmuch as the heater lends itself to the use of a substantial amount of light weight refractory, the overall weight of the heater on its foundation is low.

No bridge walls are required inasmuch as the floor construction takes the place of a bridge wall. The oor construction is inexpensive because the tile composing the baille is supported directly on the tubes of the convection banks. Although the tile composing the baille shields the upper row of convection bank tubes to some extent, the heat passing through this baille by conduction, compensates considerably for the shielding of the top row of tubes of each of the convection banks. The use of an outlet gas passage at the center of the heater is also very economical. Due to the light weight and simple construction of the framework of the heater, the time required for erection is shortened. The arrangement of the radiant heating surface in the furnace approximates a half circle about the burners, so that all of the radiant tubes are approximately equi-distant from the burners. The cross-over connections which usually constitute an expensive item, are short and of simple construction due to the fact that the bottom radiant tubes are very close to the top of the convection tubes to which they are connected. The dimensions and arrangement of the setting are such that the expansion of the brick work is small and can readily be taken care of, so that expansion throughout the heater is not a dimcult problem.

Although the invention is disclosed as embodied in a heater red from both ends, it will be understood that heaters embodying the invention may be red from one end only, if desired.

Changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts of the heaters disclosed without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1./Apparatus for heating fluids comprising Walls forming a furnace, means for ilring the furnace. iluid conducting tubular members adjacent a wall of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from oppositely disposed walls of the furnace. and a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from said oppositely disposed walls to provide spaced gaslpassages in the furnace, the space between the banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage vto receive the gases flowing from said banks of tubular members.

2. Apparatus for heating uids comprising walls forming a furnace, means for firing the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent oppositely disposed walls of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from said oppositely disposed walls of the furnace, and a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from said oppositely disposed walls to provide spaced 'gas passages in the furnace, the space between the banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage to receive the gases flowing from said banks of tubular members.

3. Apparatus for heating uids comprising walls forming a furnace, burners for firing the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent oppositely disposed walls of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from said oppositely disposed Walls of the furnace, and a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from said oppositely disposed walls to provide spaced passages in the furnace, the burners being located in a wall of the furnace extending between said oppositely disposed walls, the space between the banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage to receive the gases flowing from said banks of tubular members.

4. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, burners for firing the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent oppositely disposed walls of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from said oppositely disposed Walls of the furnace, and a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from said oppositely disposed walls to provide spaced passages in the furnace, the burners being located in a Wall of the furnace extending between said oppositely disposed Walls in the central portion thereof and adjacent said baille, the space between the banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage to receive the gases flowing from said banks of tubular members, each bank of tubular members being connected to the tubular members adjacent the wall adjoining the bank.

5. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, each side wall having a vertically extending portion and a vertically and inwardly inclined portion above the vertically extending portion and connecting with the roof of the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent the side walls of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from the side walls, each bank of tubular members being connected with the tubular members adjacent the side wall adjoining the bank to provide separate paths of flow of the fluid to be heated through the heater, a bafe above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from the side walls of the furnace to provide a passage in the furnace adjacent each side wall thereof, and a plurality of burners in an end wall of the furnace, the space between said bank-s of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage for the gases flowing from the furnace and over said banks of tubular members.

6. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, each side wall having a vertically extending portion and a vertically and inwardly inclined portion above the vertically extending portion and connecting with the roof of the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent the side walls and roof of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from the side walls, each bank of tubular members being connected with the tubular members adjacent the side wall adjoining the bank and to some of the roof tubes to provide separate paths ofvflow of the fluid to be heated through the heater, a baffle above said banks of tubular members having terminal por-` tions spaced from the side walls of the furnace to provide a gas passage in thefurnace adjacent each side wall thereof, and a plurality of burners in an end wall of the furnace, the space between said banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage for the gases flowing from the furnace and over said banks of tubular members.

7. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, each side wall having a vertically extending portion and a vertically and inwardly inclined portion above the vertically extending portion and connecting with the roof of the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent the side walls of the furnace,

spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom ofthe furnace spaced from the side walls, each bank of tubular members being connectedwith the tubular members adjacent the side wall adjoining the bank to provide separate paths of flow of the fluid to be heated through the heater, a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from the side walls of the furnace to provide a gas passage in the furnace adjacent each side wall thereof, and a plurality of burners in an end wall of the furnace located approximately centrally of the end wall and adjacent said baille, the space between said banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage for the gases flowing from the furnace and over said banks of tubular members.

8. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, each side wall having a vertically extending portion and a. vertically and inwardly inclined portion above the vertically extending portion and connecting with the roof of the furnace, fluid conducting tubular members adjacent the side walls and roof of the furnace, spaced banks of tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from the side walls, each bank of tubular members being connected with the tubular members adjacent the side wall adjoining the bank and to some of the roof tubes to provide separate paths of ow of the fluid to be heated through the heater, a baffle above said banks of tubular members having terminal portions spaced from the side Walls of the furnace to provide a gas passage in the furnace adjacent each side wall thereof, and a plurality of burners in an end wall of the furnace located approximately centrally of the end wall and adjacent said baille, the space between said banks of tubular members being in communication with a fur nace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage for the gases flowing from the furnace and over said banks of tubular members.

9. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, oppositely disposed walls and the roof of the furnace having fluid conducting tubular members adjacent thereto and arranged substantially in an arc, and at least one burner in awall of the furnace extending between said oppositely disposed walls and located at approximately the center of said arc, the furnace having a gas outlet at the lower portion thereof, means forming a gas passage at the lower portion of the furnace adjacent each of said oppositely disposed walls, said passages and said outlet being in communication so that gases from the furnace ow through said passages to the outlet.

10. Apparatus for heating fluids comprising walls forming a furnace, oppositely disposed walls and the roof of the furnace having fluid conducting tubular members adjacent thereto and arranged substantially in an arc, spaced banks of spaced tubular members at the bottom of the furnace spaced from said oppositely disposed walls of the furnace, at least one burner in a wall of the furnace extending between said oppositely disposed walls, and a baille above said banks of tubular members having terminal por tions spaced from said oppositely disposed walls to provide spaced passages in the furnace, the space between the banks of tubular members being in communication with a furnace outlet and providing a gas outlet passage to receive the gases flowing from said banks of tubular members.

TRACY H. SHERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,056 Lawrence Jan. 5, 1937 2,090,504 Schutt et a1. Aug. 17, 1937 2,122,035 Larson June 28, 1938 2,147,609 Reed et al Feb. 14, 1939 2,194,500 Herthel et al. Mar. 26, 1940 2,296,390 Merchant Sept. 22, 1942 2,335,317 Sherman Nov. 30, 1943 

